Big Stone City: Part of SD town evacuated after chemical leak

November 19, 2009

BIG STONE CITY, S.D. (AP) — About 75 people were evacuated from about 25 homes in the northeastern South Dakota town of Big Stone City after a crash left a semitrailer on its side leaking anhydrous ammonia. The accident happened about 8 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 12 at Big Stone City near the Minnesota border. Grant County Sheriff Mike McKernan says the semi was carrying anhydrous ammonia from Canby, Minn., to Wilmot and had just crossed the border into South Dakota when it collided with a van that crossed the center line. Anhydrous ammonia is a farm fertilizer than can cause health problems if people breathe it. McKernan says the incident could have been a lot worse. Clean up was continuing Thursday morning. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.